Perhaps some clarification is in order.
"Target" depends on the context, but generally refers to the other computer
that you want to take some action on remotely; that is, if you want to do
something to computer #2 from computer #1, then computer #2 is the target
computer.
The instructions on the page at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm are about adding a
"Network Printer" to "target" computers (e.g. computer #2) without actually
using the keyboard, mouse and display of those computers, but rather by
sending commands from one computer (e.g. computer #1) to all the others (the
target computers - computer #2 etc.).
Those commands will not work when sent to a computer running Windows 98, so
they aren't really of much use to you, since your other computer
(potentially a target) is running Windows 98 and anyway, looks like you've
already got the "Network Printer" added to your Windows 98 computers.
"Local" and "Network" printers are explained in the definition of "Printer"
at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/Glossary.htm which may be useful
background information.
What make and model are the printers? Many things to do with printers are
very model specific, so this is vital information if you need assistance
with printers.
1. From your description of the problem, the two printers are Local Printers
on the Windows XP Home computer. You want to be able to print on those
printers from a Windows 98 computer over the network. Is this correct?
2. With XP Home, all networking (e.g. accessing file or folder shares from
another computer, printing from another computer on a printer shared from
the XP Home computer) is done using the user account called "Guest". So,
no, you don't need to add other user accounts for users of your Windows 98
computer to use the printers.
3. If you can print Test Pages from the Windows 98 computer to the printers
that are on the XP computer, then at least you have network connectivity,
the printers are shared correctly and there are no permission (security)
issues.
4. Now, the next thing is about Printer Drivers. When you added the
Network Printers on the Windows 98 computer, were you prompted to install a
driver or did you have the driver already installed?
5. The driver that was installed on the Windows XP computer can not be used
on the Windows 98 computer. You need to have a "compatible" pair of drivers
on the two computers. What constitutes "compatible" depends entirely on the
make and model of the printers. If the drivers are not "compatible", some
things may print correctly, some may print incorrectly and some may not
print at all. You might want to see if there are newer drivers available
for each of Windows XP and Windows 98 on the printer manufacturer's web
site. See
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/possiblyusefullinks.htm for links
to the driver download place for some printer manufacturers.
6. The information and instructions at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterNoPP.htm might be useful.
7. It might be possible to add the Windows 98 driver as an "Additonal
Driver" on the Windows XP computer, but with only two computers, it may not
be worth the effort. Not all drivers can be added this way, but when it
works, the "Additional Driver" will be sent automatically to the client
computer (the Windows 98 computer in your case) when the printer is added to
the client computer. Additional Drivers are added on the printer's
Properties, Sharing page. Here's how:
a. on the Windows XP computer, right click on the printer in Printers and
Faxes and select Properties
b. select the Sharing tab
c. click Additonal Drivers
d. click the check box beside Windows 95, 98 and ME to add a check mark
e. click OK
f. click the Browse button and navigate to where the Windows 98 driver is.
This could be a floppy disk or CD that came with the printer, or the folder
where you downloaded a Windows 98 driver from the manufacturer's web site.
There should be a file with a .inf extension at that place. Select the .inf
file and click Open.
Follow through the prompts - these may vary depending on the actual driver.
If you get an error message, quite likely the driver has not been packaged
correctly to be used as an Additional Driver - unfortunately, this is all
too common, particularly for older printers and many of the (cheaper) ink
jet printers.
8. I take your point about the first paragraph at
http://members.shaw.ca/bsanders/NetPrinterAllUsers.htm being confusing. I
will work at making it less confusing, although this page is not relevant in
your situation - it does not apply to Windows 98 at all. With Windows 2000
and Windows XP, when a user uses the Add Printer wizard to add a Network
printer, nowhere in the Add Printer wizard's dialogs is there an option to
add the printer for all users that logon to that computer; the wizard only
adds the printer for the currently logged on user. However, by using the
commands described on that page, it is possible to add a Network Printer so
that all users that logon do get to use the Network Printer without adding
it using the Add Printer wizard. When the computer to which the Network
Printer is to be added is running Windows 98, this is completely irrelevant
as Windows 98 does not have these concepts.
If you still need help, please post again, but make sure you tell us what
make and model your printers are!
